Paper gathering and treating apparatus



Jan. 30, 1962 c. w. DIDDE ETAL 3,019,013

PAPER GATHERING AND TREATING APPARATUS IH n W I IN V EN TORS.

Jan. 30, 1962 I c. w. DIDDE ETAL PAPER GATHERING AND TREATING APPARATUS6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 24, 1955 E? :5 n. a G T.

Jan. 30, 1962 c. w. DIDDE ETAL PAPER GATHERING AND TREATING APPARATUS 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 24, 1955 0/ Van/am INVENTOR5 Ca// 14D/da'a y%0/7d/d A 6/45 flTTO EY,

Jan. 30, 1962 C. W. DIDDE ETAL PAPER GATHERING AND TREATING APPARATUSOriginal Filed Jan. 24, 1955 IT .606 245 5/0 524 F 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Car/W O/ade 0000/0 A /aser Jan. 30, 1962 c. w. DIDDE ETAL 3,019,013

PAPER GATHERING AND TREATING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 24, 1955 6Sheets-Sheet 6 '0" 0 14 5 vi m w 9 7 6 /@4 g: 212 I; Hi i 1 7/6 ii l#21? M IZCL/h Pam g/ i i 0 f w v V// I o Sac/f0 E Pump 35 I I INVENTORZI Pressure Car/ 1/ 0/4 6 flr/l/e fi I Mofol' 3,019,013 PAPER GATHERINGAND TREATENG APPARATUS Carl W. Didtie, 1629 Dover Road, and Donald: A.Glaser, 1520 West St, both of Emporia, Karts,

Original application Jan. 24, 1955, Ser, No. 483,790, now Patent No.2,937,868, dated May 24, 1960. Divided and this application May 5, I958,Ser. No. 733,047

7 Ciaims. (Cl. 270-58) This invention relates to apparatus for handlingsheet material and, more particularly, to an improved machine forgathering and assembling sheets of paper in predetermined order.

Since a knowledge of the disclosure of our prior U.S. Letters Patent No.2,568,224, issued September 18, 1951, for Paper Gathering Machine, willnot only facilitate an understanding of certain broad principles commonto apparatus of this general class, but will also expedite recognitionof the nature and significance of the improvements with equalreliability and without substitution of parts;-

the provision of such apparatus capable of adhesively interconnectingthe sheets of an assembled stack automatically during the gathering andassembly thereof to present a unitary pad; and the provision of suchapparatus having means for positively assuring that one, but only one,of each kind of sheet to be included in an assembled stack is actuallyincluded in each of the latter in the proper order.

Other very important objects of this invention are the provision in suchapparatus of sectionalized conveyor trays of advantageous construction;synchronized, moving, adhesive applicator means, includingcontact-responsive dispensing'structure; suction-operated, sheetthickness-gauging means, including associated electrical, interlockstructure for automatically interrupting operation of the ap paratus inthe event of an undesired measurement; im-

proved, suction-operated, reciprocable, paper pickup means;automatically variable, tilting lift tables; improved means forutilizing the perforations of perforated sheetsto facilitate loading andto assure alignment during gathering; and automatically shiftable,intermittently operable, delivery roller means. I

Stillother' important objects ofthis invention, including certainimportant details of construction, will be made clear. or becomeapparent as the description of the invention progresses.

Broadly, the apparatus of this invention may include suitable primemovers, preferably of the electric motor type,vdrivingly coupled withsuction pump means, pressure pump means and an endless conveyor havingsectionalized trays carried thereby at predetermined, spaced intervals;a number of spaced, vertically reciprocable tables adapted to carry.supply stacks of different sheets to be gatheredand assembled inpredetermined order; cam and ratchet nite States Patent meansintercoupling the conveyor with the tables for aufo--.

matically raising the latter; a number of suction-operated,

vertically reciprocable, pick-up elements disposed over each table andshiftable' to a position for lifting one end of a sheet from the top ofthe supply stack on thet'able to a point abovethe path of travel of thetrays for deposit on ice the latter; cam and crank means intercouplingthe conveyor with the elements for automatically shifting the latter toand from their operative position; suction-operated, thickness-gaugingmeans disposed above each table for automatically determining that asingle sheet has been lifted from the supply stack, such means having anelectrical connection with the power circuit for the conveyor drivingmotor for interrupting the latter when other than a single sheet islifted from the supply stack, automatically operable suction valve meansfor releasing the sheets from the pick-up elements and the gauging meansonto the trays; rotatable adhesive applicator means coupled with theconveyor for rotation by the latter to deposit a quantity of adhesiveupon a limited zone of the assembled stack of sheets on each tray as itpasses the applicator; and means for removing the assembled stacks fromthe trays without disturbing the register thereof. Manifestly, theforegoing summary of certain of the structural elements provided is byno means exclusive and is intended only to give a general impression ofthe class of machine whose structure is hereinafter to be described ingreater detail.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of apparatus made in accordance with thisinvention, with partsbroken away and certain details omitted in order toclarify the illustration of major elements;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of such apparatus with parts brokenaway and some details omitted;

FIG. 3 is a transverse, cross-sectional view of such apparatus takenvertically through such apparatus showing one stack position and themain structure associated therewith with parts broken away and somedetails omitted;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational View of such apparatus takenfrom the side opposite to that shown in MG. 2, parts being broken awayand some details omitted;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on line VV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view, partly in end elevation and partly in section, of oneof the adhesive applicators and its mounting structure;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line VII-VII of- FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in FIG. l2 is across-sectional view of the suction valve assembly taken on line XII-XIIof FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the suctionvalve assembly taken online XIIL-X lli" of FIG. 4;

H6. 14 is a perspective diagram of certain of the power transmitting andtranslating mechanisms used in the apparatus.

FIG. 15 isa schematic diagram of the electrical portion of theinvention; and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view illustrating a modifiedform of feed table arrangement.

Referring first to FIG. 15, it will be'seen that the ap-' paratus ofthis invention includes amain electrical power circuit 2il2 2 adaptedfor coupling with a suitable source of power such as an alternatingcurrent line and having a main power switch 24 interposed in series withone side Zt) thereof. Directly coupled with circuit lit-22 by conductivemeans 2628 is an electric, pump drive motor3t) which is suitably coupledmechanically in any conventional manner with a'suction'pu'mp32 and apres sure pump 34, the couplings between motor 30 and pumps 32 and 34being respectively indicated by dotted lines 31 and 33 in the figurejust mentioned. Also provided is a main drive motor 36,-which iselectrically coupled with circuit 28-22 by conductive means 38-40 andmechanically coupled, as indicated at 42, with various parts of theapparatus, as will hereinafter more fully appear. It may be noted that anormally closed switch 44 associated with a coil 46 of a relay generallydesignated 48 is interposed in series with one side 38 of conductivemeans 3840 and functions in the manner and for the purposes hereinaftermore fully explained.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a frame assembly generallydesignated 50 is provided and may include, as illustrated, opposed,elongated, lower side assemblies 52 and 54; a number of longitudinallyspaced crosspieces 56 interconnecting side assemblies 52 and 54; a pairof front posts 58, a pair of rear post 60 and a number of pairs ofintermediate posts 62 interconnected with assemblies 52 and 54 andextending thereabove; a pair of elongated, upper, side members 64 and 66interconnecting the upper ends of posts 58, 60, and 62; a rear guard 68;a pair of opposed, forward, side plates 70 and 72; a pair of motor andpump-supporting platforms 74 and 76 on front posts 58; a front housing78 partially shown in FIG. 2; and other bracing, supporting and housingstructures, including some to be hereinafter more fully identified andothers of a desirable but optional nature, such as guard covers forcertain moving parts, which may be of any conventional construction andconstitute no part of the invention claimed. Frame assembly 50 ispreferably supported upon and secured to a number of mounting blocks 77resting upon and secured to a floor or the like 79.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main drive motor 36 is mounted upon the platform74, and it will be understood that the pump drive motor 39 and the pumps32 and 34 are preferably mounted on platform 76 and are behind thehousing 78 in the mentioned figure. Main drive motor 36 is coupled,preferably through a speed-reducing gear box (not illustrated), with arotatable, horizontal, main drive shaft 80 suitably journalled andsupported upon frame assembly 50 forwardly of front posts 58. A maindrive sprocket 82 and an auxiliary drive sprocket 84 are rigidly mountedon drive shaft 80. Four horizontally and vertically spaced, conveyorshafts parallel to drive shaft 80 are provided and rotatably mounted onframe assembly 50, such shafts more particularly being identified as thelower front conveyor shaft 86, the lower rear conveyor shaft 88, theupper front conveyor shaft 90, and the upper rear conveyor shaft 92. Adriven sprocket 94 is rigidly mounted on the lower front conveyor shaft86 and is coupled with main drive sprocket 82 on drive shaft 80 by meansof an endless chain 96. As illustrated, means in the nature of an idlersprocket 98 rotatably mounted upon a swingable lever 100, which lever isbiased by an adjustably mounted spring 102, is preferably provided formaintaining the desired tension on chain 96.

As most clearly shown in FIGS. 1 2, and 14, lower front conveyor shaft86 is provided with a pair of spaced conveyor sprockets 104 and 166,lower rear conveyor shaft 88 with a pair of sprackets 108 and 110, upperfront conveyor shaft with a pair of sprockets 112 and 114, and upperrear conveyor shaft with a pair of sprockets 116 and 118. Trained oversprockets 184, 108, 112 and 116 is an endless conveyor chain 120; and asecond endless conveyor chain 122 is trained over sprockets 106, 110,114 and 118 in spaced relationship to chain 120. Chains 120 and 122 thustransmit power from shaft 86 to each of shafts 88, 90 and 92.

FIG. 14, in particular, also illustrates the majority of other powertransmitting and translating assemblies utilized in the apparatus, theirpurposes and the nature of the remaining assemblies of such type beinghereinafter more fully explained. Lower front shaft 86, besides carryingdriven sprocket 94 (shown only in FIG. 2) and conveyor sprockets 104 and106, is also provided with a pair of similar, eccentric cams 124 and 126adjacent sprockets 104 and 106 respectively and with an individual,eccentric cam 128 adjacent cam 124. Upper front shaft is provided withan individual, eccentric cam 130 adjacent sprocket 112, an individual,eccentric cam 131 between sprockets 112 and 114, and with an individual,eccentric cam 132 and an individual, eccentric cam 134 adjacent sprocket114.

As shaft 86 is rotated, the pair of cams 124 and 126 respectively impartreciprocatory movement to a pair of elongated bars 136 and 138, whichare provided with followers 140 and 142 respectively and are eachyieldably biased in the direction of the corresponding cam 124 or 126 byany suitable spring means (not shown). Bars 136 and 138 are eachsupported by pivotal connection as at 144 and 146 respectively with acorresponding set of crank plates 148 and 150, One each of which isillustrated in FIG. 14. Each of the crank plates 148 is in turn pivotedas at 152 to a bracket 154 on lower side assembly 52, while each of thecrank plates is similarly pivoted as at 156 to a bracket 158 on lowerside assembly 54, as also shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. Each crank plate148 is further provided with an upwardly extending, verticallyreciprocable rod 160 pivoted to plate 148 as at 162, and each crankplate 150 is similarly provided with such a rod 164 pivoted thereto asat 166. As crank plate 14% and 150 are swung by horizontal reciprocationof bars 136 and 138, rods 160 and 164 reciprocate vertically forpurposes hereinafter to be made clear.

Rotation of shaft 86 also imparts swinging movement to an arm 168pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on frame 50 as at 179, byvirtue of the action of cam 128 upon a follower 172 carried by arm 168intermediate its ends. A rod-like element 174 is pivotally connected atits lower extremity, with the opposite end of arm 168 as at 176, and hasits upper extremity pivotally connected as at 178 with a crank member180 mounted on a rotatable portion 182 of a telescoped, suction pipeassembly 184. As arm 168 is swung, element 174 reciprocates verticallyto swing crank 180 and rock portion 182 relative to the remainder ofpipe 184, for purposes hereinafter to be explained.

As shaft 90 is rotated, cam 130 acts upon a follower 186 provided on ahorizontally reciprocable, elongated member 188, to reciprocate thelatter for purposes hereinafter to be detailed with particular referenceto FIG. 10. It is to be understood that any suitable means (not shown)are provided for reciprocably mounting member 188 on frame 50 and foryieldably biasing the same toward cam 130.

Rotation of shaft 90 also causes rotation of cam 131 to alternately openand close a normally open, singlepole, single-throw, electrical switch190 (shown only in FIG. 15), the mechanical coupling between cam 131 andswitch 190 being conventional and indicated by the dotted line 192 inthe last-mentioned Figure. The function of switch 190 will be more fullytreated hereinafter.

Cam 132, which likewise rotates with shaft 90, actuates a follower 194provided on a triangular plate 196, which is in turn swingably mountedon front post 58 as at 198, to swing plate 196 about pivot 198. Asindicated in FIG. 2, plate 196 is yieldably biased toward cam 132 byspring means 200 and is provided with a lateral extension 202 having thefunctions hereinafter disclosed.

Rotation of shaft 90 moreover rotates cam 134, which in turnreciprocates horizontally reciprocable, rod-like member 204 having acam-engaging follower 206. Member 204 is also mounted for reciprocationon frame 50 and is yieldably biased toward cam 134 by any suitable meanswhich will not be here detailed. The purposes and functioning of member2114 will, however, be here-. inafter set forth in appropriate order ofmention.

Finally, with respect to FIG. 14, there is illustrated one of a numberof adhesive applicators 208 provided in the apparatus of this invention.Each applicator 208' is elongated, extends transversely of frame 50, isrotatably mounted on the latter by means hereinafter described, and isprovided with a sprocket 210 in operative relationship with chain 122,whereby the applicators, 268 are rotated as chain 122 is advanced byrotation of shaft 86 and, accordingly, sprockets 106, 110, 114 and 118-.

It will be clear, therefore, that rotation of shaft 86, by its drivingconnection with power shaft 80 through sprocket 82, chain 96 andsprocket 94, results in: (l) rotation of earns 124 and 126 thereoncausing reciprocation of bars 136 and 138 and, in turn, swinging ofplates 148 and 150 and reciprocation of rods 160 and 164; (2) rotationof cam 123 thereon causing swinging of arm 168 and, in turn,reciprocation of element 174, swinging of crank 180 and rotation of pipeportion 182; and (3) rotation of sprockets 194 and 106 causingadvancement of chains 120 and 122 and, in turn, rotation of sprocketpairs 108410, 112414 and 116118 and their respective shafts 88, 90 and92, as well as rotation of sprockets 210 and, accordingly applicators208. Rotation of shaft 90, in turn, results in: (l) rotation of cam 130causing reciprocation. of member 188; (2)rotation of cam 131 causingintermittent closing of switch 190; (3) rotation of cam 132 causingswinging of plate 196; and (4) rotation, of earn 134 causingreciprocation of member 204. It will be obvious. that suchinterrelationship of moving parts defines a cooperably timed andcoordinated system of power translation and transmission. The uses madeof the various available motions in the apparatus of this invention willbe hereinafter made apparent. It may be presently pointed out, however,that, as those skilled in the art will readily understand, the sizes ofthe various sprockets. and the sizes and shapes of the various cams arechosen and carefully interrelated to yield the cooperatively timedrelationships between the operations of various working parts of theapparatus hereinafter described. Since the precise constructions of thevarious cams and sprockets will obviously depend upon the desired sizeand. operational speed of the over-all apparatus, and since theconsiderations for constructing same will be readily apparent to. thoseskilled in the art in the light of this disclosure, it is deemedunnecessary to describe the various camsv and sprockets above-mentionedin greater detail.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 5, wherein are illustrated a numberof sectionalized, paper-carrying tray assemblies 212. .A plurality ofsuch tray assemblies 212 are provided and are equally spaced alongchains 1 20 and 122,, between which they extend and by which they arecarried, such spacing being at predetermined intervals chosen inaccordance with the dimensions of the overall apparatus and thedisposition and timing of operation of other working parts. of suchapparatus, as elsewhere herein indicated.

Each tray assembly 212 includes a plurality of elongated sections 214,216 and. 213 of approximately equal widths. Rear section 214 of eachtray assembly 212 comprises an elongated bar 22% extending-betweenchains 1 2i) and. 1 22 and attached at its ends to chains 120 and 122 byany suitable bracket and fastening means 222, and a number-of L.-shaped,laterally extending, coplanar plates 22 i spacedalong the forwardmostedge of bar 22%,, extending forwardly from the latter and secured,thereto by screws or the like 226. The lateral spacing between plates22d presents a number of notches 228therebetween extending across amajor portion of the width of the section- 214. The intermediate section215 of each tray assembly 212, is disposed immediately forwardly of, thesection 214 thereof and is likewise elongated and extends between chains129 and 122. Each section 216iissecured at itsendsto-chains: 121i and122 by conventional bracket and fastening'means 23%, and. is providedwith a number of elongated notches 232 spaced along its forwardmost edgein alignment with notches 228 of the adjacent section 214-. Each section218 is disposed immediately for ward to the corresponding section 216,is substantially similar to the latter, is provided with spaced notches234 along its forwar-dmost edge in alignment with the notches 228 and232 of sections 214 and 216, and is secured at its ends to chains and122 by bracket and fastening means 236.

Each tray 212, or more specifically, each section 214 is provided with anumber of laterally spaced, upstanding rear paper stops 238 and with anumber of laterally spaced, upstanding, rear paper holders 240 securedupon the rearmost edge of the section 214-. Each holder 240 includes anL-shaped bracket portion, as best shown in FiG. 5, and is provided witha loosely swingable, gravitationally biased element 242 pivoted at itsupper extremity to the L-shaped bracket portion of holder 240 as at 244.As will hereinafter become more apparent, when a tray 212 advancesbeneath a sheet of paper being held thereabove in a manner hereinafterto be explained (not shown in FIG. 1 or 5), the rear edge of the paperengages element 242 of holder 240, thereby swinging element 242rearwardly to permit passage of said edge of the paper between element242 and bar 226 of section 214; element 242 then swings back to itsnormal gravitated position to hold the paper upon section 214 with therear edge of the paper abutting stops 238 and the rear legs of theholder brackets 2-40.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, there is provided upon the forwardpart of frame 50, preferably extending between front posts- 58 adjacentthe tops of the latter, a crosspiece 246 to which are secured in anysuitable fash ion a plurality of vertical plates 248. Each plate 248extends rearwardly from crosspiece 246 and is provided at its rearextremity with a pointed, rearwardly extending, stripper element 256. Aswill be clear from the drawings, there is a plate 246 and a stripperelement 25f? for each set of notches 22$232234-' in the trays 212, andthe elements 250 are so disposed as to enter in succession the notches234, 232 and 228 as the portions of chains 120 and 122 adjacent traysections 214', 216 and 213' respectively commence their downwardmovement around conveyor sprockets 112 and114. Elements 250 function,therefore, to strip from trays 212 any papers carried by the latter justas the trays 212 start to descend from their thereto fore horizontalcourse toward the front of the apparatus.

Mani-festly, the facts that the trays 212 are sectionalized and thatteach section- 214, 216 and 218' of each tray 212 is notched as at 228',232 and 234 respectively, makes it possible for sheets of paper ofvirtually any size to be positively removed fromthe trays 212 by thestripper elements 250; With conventional, prior constructions, suchresult could not be obtained, and it was necessary to either substituteentirely different paper carrying trays or to make anadjustment ofstopmeans thereon in the apparatus for each range of paper sizes to behandled.

Referring now especially to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 10, wherein areillustrated the means for receiving a plurality of piles of paper orother sheet material to be gathered and assembled into stacksincluding asingle sheet from each pile arranged in predetermined order and the:means for automatically raising each of said pile receiving means to anoperative position and maintaining the same at such position. as sheetsare removed from thepile thereon, it will first be' noted that each ofthe intermediate posts 62 is provided. with an inwardly facing, verticalchannel member 251 thereon so that each. pair of opposed posts 62present a pair of opposed, vertical tracks 252 for receiving a: numberof. guide rollers 254- rotatably mounted on opposite sides of a feedtable5assembly 25j6.

Each of the feed table assemblies 256, of which there is one for eachopposed pair of intermediate posts 62, i'ncludesa pair of spaced-apart,parallel s'ide plates 258' and 260 interconnected by a vertical backplate 262 and carrying a top 264 secured thereto in any suitablefashion. Top 264 is, of course, adapted to receive a pile of paper orcut sheet material and to lift the latter as the assembly 256 is raisedto a position where apparatus hereinafter to be described may remove thesheets from the pile one at a time for placement upon a tray 212 as thelatter passes the particular position or station defined by that pair ofopposed posts 62, its table assembly 256 and the other structureassociated therewith.

Each channel member 251 is provided adjacent its lowermost end with alateral extension 266 upon which is rotatably mounted an idler sprocket268. Each of posts 62 is provided adjacent its upper end with a bearing270. Bearings 270 rotatably mount a shaft 272 upon which are rigidlyaffixed a spaced pair of small sprockets 274 and a larger sprocket 276.The pair of sprockets 274 are disposed directly above the pair ofsprockets 268 and each corresponding pair of sprockets 268 and 274carries an endless chain 278. Fastening means 280, which may be ofconventional type, is provided on each of chains 278 and connect thelatter with the feed table assembly 256, whereby table 256 may be raisedand lowered as the chains 278 progress in one direction or the otherabout sprockets 268 and 274.

A cross member 282 extends between each opposed pair of intermediateposts 62 and is rigidly secured to the latter by means 284. A number ofelongated, vertical paper guide elements 286 are adjustably secured tocross member 282 and serve to maintain the front edge of the pile ofpapers or cut sheet material upon top 264 of table assembly 256 invertically aligned disposition. Other elongated, vertical guide elements288 are provided and also secured to the cross element 282. As indicatedin FIG. 3, top 264 of table 256 may be provided, as shown forillustration, with a number of perforations 290 disposed to coincidewith perforations which may be encountered in the type of papers thathave been punched to accommodate carrying pins for facilitatinghandling. A pair of such elongated, vertical guide pins 292 are shownsupported adjacent their lowermost ends by means 294 provided on guides288 and extend upwardly therefrom through perforations 290 of top 264 toa level slightly above that of the top of the pile of papers upon tableassembly 256 when the latter is in operative position. Mounting means294 for pins 292 are preferably hinged to guides 288 and include anoppositely disposed pivotal connection 296 in order that pins 292 mayswing slightly in any direction to prevent binding between pins 292 andperforations 290 as the table assemblies 256 are raised or lowered. Pins292 may include a threaded coupling 298 to permit securement of pins 292upon mounting means 294 when papers stacked on such pins 292 forhandling are being piled upon the table assembly 256 for processing inthe apparatus. When papers are not so preloaded on pins 292, the lattermay obviously be removed. The use of pins 292, when used, thus serve tosupplement the action of guide elements 286 and 288 in maintaining thepapers of a pile upon the assembly 256 in properly aligned condition.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 10, there is illustrated the means bywhich chains 278 are automatically operated to maintain each table 256in proper operative position in response to the number of papersremaining in the pile carried by the table assembly 256. There isprovided on each intermediate post 62 on the side of the apparatuscarrying upper frame member 66 a box-like housing 300 including amounting plate 302. A stub shaft 304 is rotatably jounralled uponmounting plate 302 in parallelism with shaft 272. Stub shaft 304 carriesa sprocket 306 which is operably connected with large sprocket 276 ofshaft 272 by an endless chain 308. Shaft 304 also carries a ratchetwheel 310 and a hand crank 312. A swingable dog 314 is pivotally mountedupon plate 302 and yieldably biased by a spring 316 toward engagementwith ratchet 310 for preventing retrograde movement of the latter. Aswingable lever 318 pivotally mounted upon frame 30 as at 320 isengageable with dog 314 and may be manually swung upwardly as in FIG.10, to raise dog 314 out of engagement with ratchet 310 to permit manualoperation of crank 312 to move chains 278 for quickly raising orlowering the table assembly 256 to a desired starting position. Itshould be noted, however, that table 256 will be automatically broughtto the desired operating position, even in the absence of adjustment byhand crank 312, by the mechanism about to be de cribed.

It will be observed that the reciprocable member 188 passes through thehousing 300' and is provided within the latter with a triangularprojection 322. A swingable plate assembly 324 is rotatably mounted uponshaft 304 and carries thereon a follower 326 engageable with the slopingedge of projection 322 when plate assembly 324 i swung sufficientlycounterclockwise in FIG. 10 and member 188 is reciprocated to the rightin said figure. A ratchet engaging dog 328 is pivotally mounted uponplate assembly 324 as at 330 and normally rests upon the upper surfaceof ratchet wheel 310 by virtue of the action of gravity. Since the wholeplate assembly 324 also tends by the action of gravity to swingcounterclockwise as shown in FIG. 10, it will be clear that in theabsence of mean arresting such counterclockwise movement of plateassembly 324, follower 326 will be engaged by projection 322 ofreciprocating member 188 each time the latter is reciprocated to theright in FIG. 10, and that plate assembly 324 will thereby be swungclockwise moving dog 328 to advance ratchet wheel 310 one step in aclockwise direction as shown in said figure. Such rotation of ratchetwheel 318 will rotate shaft 304 and, through sprocket 306, chain 308 andsprocket 276, will also rotate shaft 272 and sprockets 274 to advancechains 278 in a direction for raising the table assembly 256.

In order to control such raising of the table assembly 256, there isprovided a horizontal shaft 332 rotatably mounted upon frame 50 in anysuitable manner and carrying a crank 334 having a number of papersensing fingers 336 adapted to rest upon the top paper of a pile 338thereof when the latter has been raised to a certain height. Plateassembly 324 is provided with a suitable bracket 340 adapted to receivein sliding relationship thereto an elongated rod 342 which is pivotallyattached to the crank 334 at one end thereof as at 344 and is threadedon the opposite end thereof extending through bracket 340 as at 346. Aninternally threaded extension 348 receives threaded portion 346 of rod342 for adjustment of the length of rod 342 disposed between bracket 340and crank connection 344 against the yielding bias of a spring 350disposed between bracket 340 and a pin 352 afi'ixed to rod 342. Theaction of gravity upon plate assembly 324 normally pulls rod 342downwardly and to the left as shown in FIG. 10, thereby yieldablybiasing the paper sensing fingers 336 in a downward direction upon thetopmost paper in pile 338. As continued reciprocation of member 188 andconsequent advancement of ratchet wheel 310 raises table assembly 256and pile 338 thereon, the fingers 336 are gradually swung upwardly,thereby rotating crank 334 clockwise as shown in FIG. 10, and pullingrod 342 toward the right. Such action swings the plate assembly 324 in aclockwise direction as shown in the FIGURE and toward a position wherereciprocation of member 188 will no longer cause sufficient engagementbetween projection 322 and follower 326 to result in advancement of thesprocket wheel 310 by the dog 328. This, of course, is the equilibriumsituation by which further raising of the table assembly 256 isautomatically prevented once the latter has reached the desiredoperative position by the action of the pile 338 upon the sensingfingers 336 and the swinging of plate assembly 324 to an inoperativeposition as just described. Obviously, as sheets are removed from I the.sleeves 262 is such that the the top of pile 338 as hereinafterexplained, sensing fingers 336 will gradually swing downwardly untilplate assembly 324 is swung to a position again resulting in advancementof the ratchet wheel 310' and raising of the table 256 to the desiredoperative position.

Attention is now especially directed to FIGS. 1,, 2, 3, 4, l2 and 13,wherein are illustrated the means for lifting the top sheet of a pile ofpaper or the like carried by each table 256 therefrom-and depositingthesame upon a tray 212 while the latter continues to move by virtue ofthe. continuous advancement of conveyor chains 12%) and 122. Eachvertically reciprocable rod 160 and 164 is provided at the uppermost endthereof, which is slightly above the upper frame members 64, and 66,with a bearing assembly 354. The bearing assemblies 354 of eachopposedpair of rods 160 and 164' rotatably carries an elongated, tubularelement 356, which extends laterally across the apparatus. Each tube 356is coupled by a flexible hose 358 with a corresponding outlet 360 onsleeve 362 of a suction valve assembly generally designated 364 and mostclearly shown. in FIGS. 4, l2 and 13. It will be observed that suction.pipe portion 132 is provided with an elongated opening 366 underlyingeach sleeve 362, and that each sleeve 362 has a pin 368 extendingtherefrom and receivedby a slot 370 in abracket 372 mounted upon theupper side member 66. Pin 368 and bracket 372 prevent rotation of sleeve362, while pipe portion 182 is being continuously, rotativelyoscillatedby the action of crank 130 responsive tocam 128 ashereinbefore described. It may be noted that the-extent of rotativeoscillation of pipe portion lfizrelative to outlet 36f of. each of thesleeves 362 is closed at one. end of the oscillatory swing and openedfor a predetermined period therebetween. Obviously, whenever the outlets363 are in communication with their corresponding. openings. 366 thesuction existing in pipe portion 182 is transimtted through the flexiblehoses 358 to the various tubular elements 356.

Carried by brackets 374 upon. each. tubes 356 are a number of suckerlift assemblies generally designated by the numeral 376. Theconstruction of the sucker lift assemblies 376- is best shown in. FIG.11 to include a vertical tube 378" receiving hose- 358. at its upperend, rigidly carried by bracket 374v and extending. below the latter andprovided with a piston3f5ti upon its lowermost end. A two-piece cylinder382--384. has a bore 336 slidably-receiving. tube 37.3 andis providedwith acylindrical chamber 388 in. which piston 38% is free to re.-ciprocate. Cylinder chamber 388 communicates with the bottom of assembly382384 by means of areduced diameter. bore 390. interposed betweenbracket374 and the upper portion of cylinder "assembly 382384 is aresilient spring 392, which yieldably biases cylinder assembly 382-384.downwardly from bracket 374. The normal position of piston. 3 80 withinchamber 388 is, therefore, at thetop of the latter with the cylinderassembly 382-384 biased. by spring 392 to the lowermost endof its pathof. travel relative to tube 378 and bracket 374. So long as thelowermost end of bore 390 is not obstructed, it. will be clear that thesuction transmitted by hose 358 to tube 378 and thence through thehollow piston 380 will be in communication withthe atmosphere by meansof bore 390. andno relative movement between cylinder assembly 382-384and piston 380 will occur. However, when the lowermost end of bore 390is. obstructed, as when the lowermost end, of cylinder assembly 382-384is placed upon. a sheet of paper, the force of the suction created inchamber 388 will lift cylinder assembly 382384 againstthe action ofspring392in order to minimize the volume, in chamber 388 being subjectedto the. evacuation. process. Naturally, the paper which is closing thelower end ofbore 390v is thus held and raised so long as the suction isbeing. communicated to the lift assembly 376 by proper positioning ofthe corresponding valve assembly 364.

It istobe understood that the relative timing between reciprocation ofrods and 164, the operation of suction valve assembly 36.4. throughrocking of pipe 182, and the advancement of conveyor chains12tl and 122is such that the sucker lift assemblies 376. are lowered into contactwith the uppermost sheet of paper or the like. upon the feed tableassembly 256, that suction valve 364..will then. operate to create asuction. in lift assemblies 376 for. picking up such top sheet of paper,that rods 163 and. 164 will then be reciprocatedto lift the end of suchsheet of paper disposed toward the next advancing tray 212 above thepath of travel of the latter, and that the suction in lift assemblies376 will be continued. by valve 364 until such tray 222 has passedcompletely under the lifted sheet of paper and been properly emplacedupon the top of such tray 2112. Valve 364 will then operate to cut offthe suction in lift assemblies 376, thereby releasing the paper fortravel. with the tray 212 upon which it has been deposited. It will benoted in FIG. 2 that one end of each suction. tube 356. is. providedvwith a depending crank element 394; engageable. by an adjustable stop396 upon" reciprocating rod 204. The reciprocation of such rod 204 istimed. so that stop 396. operates. upon element 39.4. torotate tube 356.through a small are just as pick-up of the sheet ofpaper from the stackupon tray 212 is being accomplished. This results in a swinging of thelift assembly 376 from its normal perpendicular relationship with the.sheet of paper and aids in the separation of the top sheet of paper fromthe sheets therebelow.

Attention is now directed particularly to FIGS. 1., 2, 3', 4., 8 and. 9.wherein the numeral. 4% generally designates a sheet detector. One ofsuch sheet detectors 4% i provided for each material lifting table 256and is supported rigidly upon. a crosspiece. 462 immediately adjacentthe path of reciprocation. of the corresponding suction tube 356 and thelift assemblies 376 mounted on the latter. Referring particularly now toFIGS. 8 and 9 whereinv the sheet detector 400 is shown in detail, itisfirst noted that the purpose of such apparatus is to detect thethickness of the sheet or sheets if any actually lifted by the liftassemblies 376 from the corresponding lift table 256. The sheetdetectors. 4% provide an. interlock means for stopping the operation. ofthe apparatus in the event that either'a particular set of liftassemblies 376 fails to raise any sheet of paper into position. fordeposit upon an advancingtray 212 or in the event that such liftassemblies 376; pick up. more than a single sheet of paper and disposesame for deposit upon the tray 212. Since the apparatus of thisinvention is adapted for automatically gathering and assembling groups.of papers including a single sheet from each of the lift tables 256 withsame arranged in predetermined: order,jthe importance of assuring thatone but only one of each kind of sheet is gathered in turn upon thetrays. 21 2 by the operation of the lift assemblies. 376, is apparent.Each sheet detector includes aswitch assembly 464, which may be in thenature of. a micro-switch, having a. swingable operating arm. 406. Aswill beclear from FIG. 15, opening of the switch 404 of any of the;sheet detectors 400 will immediately result in derenergization. oftherelay coil 46. and, therefore, d'e-energization. of the main drivemotor 36. Switch 464 is mounted. in any. suitable fashion upona framestructure 40? upon which: is swingably mounted an L-shaped'mem- 'ber4.1-3 adapted for being adjustablyv positioned" about apivot 412. byoperation of an adjusting screw 414 having an accessible knob- 416'.Mounted upon swingable member 410 and depending therefrom is a cylinderblock 418,. the latter being carried by crosspiece 402 in. fixedposition thereon. Block 418 is provided with an elongated, verticalcylinder chamber 426 in which is disposed a vertically reciprocablepiston 4'22. Cylinder 426 is open at the lowermost end thereof; to cleara depending extension rod- 424: connected with piston 422 at itsuppermost end and carrying on its lowermost end a substantiallysemicircular thickness sensing element 426 whose operation will shortlybe described. Block 418 is provided with a passageway 428-430communicating with cylinder chamber 420 and connected through flexibletubing 432 with a second outlet 434 on sleeve 362 of suction valveassembly 364. It will be noted from FIG. 12 that suction tube 182 isprovided with a second elongated opening 436, which is adapted tocommunicate with outlet 434 when suction pipe 182 is swung to one end ofits path of oscillatory movement. Communication of outlet 434 withopening 436 thus occurs midway during the time when opening 366 is incommunication with outlet 360. An upwardly extending rod 438 having anenlarged portion 440 within cylinder chamber 420 is connected at itslowermost end with piston 422 and bears at its uppermost end against arm406 of switch 404 for operating the latter as piston 422 is reciprocatedwithin cylinder 420. Enlarged portion 440 of rod 430 is provided with aspiral groove 442 into which a pin 444 mounted in block 418 extends. Itwill thus be clear that, as piston 422 is reciprocated within cylinder420 as hereinafter explained, the piston 422 and accordingly extension424 and sensing element 426 will be rotated relative to the block 418.Block 418 is also provided with a number of passages 446 communicatingat their lowermost end with the bottom of block 418 and the atmosphereas at 448. It will be noted from FIG. that each of the switches 404 isnormally closed and it will be understood that such switches 404 areopened only when the piston 422 of the sheet detector 400 isreciprocated upwardly in a manner hereinafter to be explained to operatethe arm 406 of the switch 404. It will also be noted from such figurethat the switches 404 are connected in series with the normally open,cam-operated switch 190. From this, it will be observed that coil 46will be energized and main drive motor 36 accordingly de-energized onlywhen both switch 190 and one of the sheet detector switches 404 aresimultaneously closed. The cam 131 is timed so as to close switch 190momentarily during the period that opening 436 of suction valve assembly364 is in communication with outlet 434. It will thus be apparent that,if the suction imposed upon the upper face of piston 422 by virtue ofopening 436 coming into communication with outlet 434 can be utilized toreciprocate the piston 422 upwardly, it will operate arm 406 therebyopening the switch 404. During the period when cam 131 closes switch190, the above referred to series circuit through switches 190 and 404will still remain broken and coil 46 will not be energized to stop motor36.

The normal position of the piston 422 and its associated parts areillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 by dotted lines, the upwardly reciprocatedposition of same for operating arm 406 to open switch 404 beingindicated in solid lines. From the figure it will be clear that, becauseof passages 446' placing that portion of cylinder 420 above piston 422in communication with the atmosphere as long as end 448 of passages 446remain unobstructed, the piston 422 will not be reciprocated upwardlyfrom its normal position whenever suction is imposed upon the upperportion of chamber 420 through passage 428- 430. It will likewise beperceived, however, that if passage opening 448 is closed, imposition ofsuction into the upper part of cylinder 420 will reciprocate the piston422 upwardly toward a position for operating arm 406.

It must now be understood that each of the sheet detectors 400 is sodisposed that a sheet or sheets of paper being lifted by the liftassemblies 376 will just clear a flat edge 450 of element 426 when thelatter is in its nor mal position and will be brought into coveringrelationship to openings 448 of passages 446. The reciprocation of rods160 and 164 is such that a sheet of paper picked up by the liftassemblies 376 will be brought into such closing relationship withpassages 446 before opening 436 of valve assembly 364 is brought intocommunication with outlet 434 by the rocking of suction pipe 182.Continued motion of pipe 182 then brings opening 436 into communicationwith outlet 434 and imposes a suction through passage 428430 into theupper portion of cylinder chamber 420. Presuming that one or more sheetsof paper carried by the lift assembies 376 are closing the passages 446,piston 422 will be reciprocated upwardly toward a position for operatingarm 406. As piston 422 reciprocates upwardly, it is rotated by theaction of pin 444 in groove 442 thereby turning the sensing element 426so that a machined face 425 thereof underlies the sheet or sheets ofpaper being held below passage openings 448 by the lift assemblies 376.Further assuming that the block 418 has been properly positionedrelative to arm 406 of switch 404 by adjusting means 414, if only asingle sheet of paper has been lifted by the lift assemblies 376, as isdesired, piston 422 will be permitted to reciprocate upwardlysufficiently to operate arm 406 just as face 452 of element 426 comes incontact with the lower surface of the sheet of paper, thereby stoppingfurther reciprocation. On the other hand, again assuming properadjustment, if more than a single sheet of paper is being held by thelift assemblies 376 below passage openings 448, the combined thicknessesof such sheets will serve as a stop for surface 452 of element 426 andwill prevent reciprocation of piston 422 a sufficient distance tooperate the arm 406 for opening the switch 404.

It will now be apparent from FIG. 15 that if piston 422 has not beenreciprocated sufficiently to open the switch 404 on each of the sheetdetectors 400 when cam 131 closes switch 90, the coil 46 will beenergized and motor 36 stopped. It may be noted that means not shown areprovided for maintaining the motor 36 deenergized until a manualresetting operation has been performed after appropriate correction ofthe difficulty with the set of lift assemblies 376 that has eitherfailed to pick up a sheet at all or has picked up more than a singlesheet. On the other hand, it will be equally clear that if the liftassemblies 376 function properly to pick up only a single sheet, as theynormally will except in cases of irregularities of the sheets in thepaper supply, all of switches 404 will have been opened by fullreciprocation of the piston 422 prior to and during the time that switchis closed by cam 131, so that the energization of motor 36 is notaffected. An indicator light 454 may conveniently be provided upon thetop of each sheet detector 400 and connected by circuit means not shownfor indicating whenever the switch 404 of that particular detector 400does not open during the closing of switch 190, such indication beinghelpful in immediately spotting the set of lift assemblies 376 inconnection with which difficulties have arisen.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 14, there is illustratedthe construction of the glue applicators 208 as well as theirdisposition. It will be noted that one glue applicator assembly 208 isprovided for each feed table 256 or, more commonly stated, at eachstation of the apparatus of the invention.

As will be most clear from FIGS. 2 and 6, a pair of spaced, upstandingrods 502 and a similar pair of spaced, upstanding rods 504 arerespectively mounted upon side members 66 and 64. Rods 502 are paralleland interconnected by crosspieces 506 and 508 which are verticallyspaced upon the rods 502. Slidably mounted on rods 502 betweencrosspieces 506 and 508 is a vertically reciprocable bearing block 510.Similarly, rods 504 are parallel and are interconnected by spacedcrosspieces 512 and 514 to limit the movement therebetween of avertically reciprocable bearing block 516 slidably mounted upon the rods504. Each of blocks 516 is biased downwardly by spring means 518 and theextent of its downward travel limited by an adjustable screw 520 incrosspiece 514, the spring 518 being interposed between crosspiece 512and the block 516. Comparable spring means 520 and limit means 522 areprovided for reciprocable block 510. Rotatably journalled in blocks 510and 516 is a tubular shaft 524 extending beyond each of the blocks 510and 516. Shaft 524 is closed at one end as at 526 and is placed incommunication with a flexible tubing 528 through suitable packing means530 the details of which form no part of this invention and need not bedescribed in detail. A container 532 for glue or other adhesive isdisposed above the end of shaft 524 in communication with tubing 528,and the latter communicates with container 532 to carry a supply ofadhesive into the interior of tubular shaft 524. A sprocket 210 isprovided on each shaft 524 and is adapted for rigid connection theretoby any suitable clutch asesmbly 534. Sprocket 21Bis in engagement withconveyor chain 122 as hereinbefore described, so that shaft 524 isrotated at predetermined speed.

Disposed at spaced intervals and in alignment along the length of hollowshaft 524 are a number of individual glue spotting assemblies broadlydesignated by the numeral 536. Each gluing assembly 536 comprises ahollow, elongated tube 538 threadably mounted at one end thereof inshaft 524 as at 540. A bore 542 extends longitudinally through each tube538 and is provided with an enlarged portion 544 adjacent the end oftube 538 remote from shaft 524. The end of each tube 538 is inwardlyflared as at 546 to retain a small metallic sphere 548 within bore 542but' adapted for a portion of the surface of such ball 543 to extendbeyond the end oftube 538; A coil' spring 550 is provided withinenlarged portion 544 of bore 542 for yieldably biasing ball. 548 to aposition extending partially from the end of tube 538' remote from shaft524. Since bore 542. is in communication with the hollow interior ofshaft 524, and since the latter is filled with adhesive flowing fromthe. elevated container 532 through tubing 528; and means 530, it isclear that the bore 542 will be filled. with adhesive and that same willpass into enlarged portion 544? tomaintain ball 548 in a weddedcondition. It will thus be clear that as shaft 524- rotates, balls 548are adapted to place a spot of glue upon any body with which they comein contact. In FIG. 7, the numeral 552 represents the top sheet of paperof. a stack of one or more of same being carried in the directionindicated by the arrow upon one of the trays 212. The position of theshaft 524- and its attached assemblies 536 are indicated in dotted linesin this figure for the condition when balls 548 are not in contact withthe paper 522, it being noted that the bearing blocks 510 and 516 arethen in: their lowermost positions. As the shaft 524 continues to rotateby virtue of the driving connection between chain, 122. and the sprocket210, the shafts 524 and assemblies 538 will arrive at the operativegluing position illustrated in solid lines in the figure, it being notedthat in this condition the bearing blocks 510 and 516 have beenreciprocated upwardly against the yielding resistance of springs 518 and520 be;- cause of the upward force exerted upon the assemblies 536 bytheir engagement with the paper 552 on the tray 212.

It is significant that ball 5430f each of the glue assemblies 536 mustbe firmly pressed against the sheet of paper 552' in order to assurepositive gluing action. However, since the sheet 552 is continuouslymoving. on a tray 212, it is manifest that such desiredresult could notbe obtained with gluing assemblies 536. capable only of verticalreciprocation without movement in the same direction'as the paper 552.The solution to the problem is to provide for rotation of the assemblies536 in the same direction and at a rate such that the gluing balls 54%move at exactly the same speed as the paper 552 during the period ofcontact therebetween. By utilizing such principle, this invention hasovercome the tendency for the glue-applying means to rumple or disturbthe register of sheets or to otherwise mar the paper 552, while stillassuring that the desired gluing action will be accomplished in apositive manner.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1', 2', 5 and 14, there isillustrated in detail the means for delivering stacks of papers removedfrom trays 212 by the stripper elements 250 to an endless conveyor belt66% illustrated in FIG. 1', which delivers the stacks to an operator orreceptacle not shown. The particular advantage of the delivery means tobe described is its ability to receive stacks of papers from thestripper elements 250 and rapidly remove the same from the trays 212without disturbi'ng the registerbetween. newly glued sheets included inthe stack. A set of lower delivery rollers 602 are rigidly mounted on ashaft 6124 which is in turn rotatably mounted on plates 248. Shaft 6%has a sprocket 606 mounted adjacent the end thereof. A rocker shaft 608is rotatably journalled in upstanding brackets 610 and rigidly carriesthereon a rocker arm 612. Rotatably journalled in the opposed rocker arm612 is an upper delivery roller shaft 614 having a number of upperdelivery rollers 616 rigidly mounted thereon and disposed directly abovelower delivery rollers 602. Shaft 608 is rotatable through an areswinging arm 612 to move rollers 602 and 616 into and out of engagementwith each other. Sprocket 606 is driven by a chain 608 trained overdrive sprocket 84, a driving sprocket 622 for conveyor belt 609, anidler sprocket 61% on shaft 663 having integrally formed therewith a.gear 620 and other idler. sprockets to rotate rollers 662 in a directionfor advancing stacks of papers stripped from tables 212 by the elements256. Gear 626, which is driven by its integral sprockets 61.8, mesheswith a. gear 624 rigid to shaft 614 to rotate the latter and therebyupper delivery roller 616 regardless of the rocked position of arms 612.Rigidly attached to shaft 606 is a crank extension 630 adapted to beswung by the projection 202 on cam-operated plate 196, as will be mostclear in FIGS. 2 and 14.

It'shouid now be understood that the operation of the plate 196 throughengagement of follower 94 with cam 132 is so timed as to swing the crankextension 630 for rotating shaft 66810 raise upper delivery roller 616out of contact with lower delivery roller 662 at the instant when theleading edge of a stack of papers from a tray 212 is being deliveredthercbetween. As soon as such stack of papers has passed a shortdistance between the rollers 692 and 616, the cam 132 operates to permitswinging of crank 630 to rock arm 612 counterclockwise as shown. in FIG.5 to a position where lower delivery roller 602 and upper deliveryroller 616 are tightly engaging and feeding the stack of paperstherebetween toward conveyor belt 600. Since such stack of papers is notgripped by rollers 602 and 616 until it has passed partiallytherebetween, the tendency for such rollers to disturb the registerofnewly glued sheets is avoided.

Referring now to FIG. 16 wherein is shown a modified form of feed tablearrangement, there is illustrated an elongated bar 762 pivoted to thepost 62 as at 704. The inclination of bar 702 from the vertical iscontrolled by adjustment of a chain or the like 706 over a stop 768.suitably mounted upon the frame 50. The table assembly itself, which isgenerally designated by the numeral 710 is generally similar to thatabove described for tables 256, except that same include a top 712mounted on opposed side plates 714 which are pivoted to the main' sideplates 260 as at 716, rather than directly attached to the. latter. Suchpivoting of the top and auxiliary side plate portions 712 and 714 of thetable permits inclination of such top 712 from the horizontal throughswinging movement relative to main plates 260. A follower 718. isprovided upon auxiliary plate 714 and disposed to engage the uppermostedge 720 of bar 702. it will be clear from the figure that, as the tableassembly 710 is raised by chain 278 as hereinbefore described, thedegree of inclination from the horizontal of top 712 decreases. This isconsistent with the purposes and objects of such modified construction,namely, to urge the uppermost papers upon a high stack of same restingupon top 712 toward the edge of table 710 adjacent the chains 278', inorder that the lift assemblies 376 will make proper contact with theuppermost sheet. It is found in practice that with certain types ofpaper a relatively high stack thereof may tend to become offset in onedirection or another. The structure shown in FIG. 16 assures that theentirety of a stack of paper on top 712 will remain in the desiredposition, it being noted that the degree of inclination of top 712decreases in accordance with the height of the stack remaining thereon.

Operation Although the operation of the apparatus of this invention willno doubt be obvious to those skilled in the art from an examination ofthe accompanying drawings in light of the foregoing description of thestructure involved, a summarized statement of the manner of operation ofthe apparatus may be helpful to those not familiar with this generalclass of equipment.

Assume first, then, that an operator has placed upon the top 264 of eachof a plurality of the spaced, feed table assemblies 256, a pile or stack338 of sheets of paper or other material to be assembled into pads orthe like with a sheet from each pile 338 included in each pad andarranged in predetermined order corresponding to the relative locationof the assemblies 256, it being noted that the sheet from the pile 338on the assembly 256 nearest the direction from which conveyor chains 120and 122 advance over assemblies 256 will be on the bottom of the pad,and sheets from piles 338 on assemblies 256 disposed along the path oftravel of chains 120 and 122 will be progressively disposed atop thesheet from the first mentioned pile 338. Assuming that the sheets indifferent piles 338 are of different colored stock, are differentlyprinted or are otherwise distinguishable and require particulararrangement in the finished pads or the like, the great utility of theapparatus will be apparent. If the sheets are perforated adjacent oneedge thereof, which is often the case with the types of sheets used inthe assembly of many types of pads, the pins 292 may be utilized tomaintain the sheets of each pile 338 in aligned or neatly stacked arrayupon the assemblies 256. If the sheets are not so perforated, the guideelements 286, as well as additional guides (not shown) which mayobviously be provided if desired, serve the same general purpose as thatpreferably performed prin cipally by pins 292. With the modified feedtable assemblies 710 (see FIG. 16), the tilting of same further aidsguide elements 286 in maintaining the piles 338 in the desireddisposition.

The operator may then, by adjusting each of the manual hand cranks 312with lever 318 swung upwardly to raise dog 314 out of engagement withratchet 310, move the chains 278 corresponding to each feed table 256 toposition the latter so that the uppermost sheet of each pile 338 isproperly engaged by the fingers 336 and disposed for being lifted fromthe pile 338 by the sucker lift assemblies 376. The manner by which handcranks 312 are adapted to accomplish such positioning of the feed tables256 will be clear particularly in FIG. 10.

With the piles 338 of sheets to be assembled thus disposed upon feedtables 256 and the latter propertly positioned, the main power switch 24may be closed to energize the main drive motor 36 and the pump drivemotor 30. Energization of main drive motor 36 results in commencement ofadvancement of the conveyor chains 120 and 122 through the operableconnections hereinbefore described. Energization of pump drive motor 30operates suction pump 32 and pressure pump 34 to supply suction pipeassembly 184 and a compressed air line 802 respectively. Compressed airline 802 is coupled through a plurality of feed lines 804 (see FIG. 3)with a plurality of outlet nozzles 806 (see FIGS. 1 and which direct acontinuous stream of air toward the forwardmost ends of the sheets ofeach pile 338 to expedite the separation of the top sheet thereof fromthe underlying ones when such top sheet is contacted by the sucker 16lift assemblies 376. The vacuum line 184 is coupled through valveassemblies 364 with the sucker lift assemblies 376 and the sheetdetectors 400 provided for operation in conjunction with each of feedtables 256.

Advancement of conveyor chains and 122 results in similar advancement ofthe spaced trays 212 carried thereby. As the trays 212 reach apredetermined position relative to the feed tables 256 toward which theyare advancing, earn 128 and its follower and connecting assembly168172--174176 operate to rockingly rotate section 182 of vacuum line184, thereby operating suction valve assemblies 364 in the mannerhereinbefore described in detail. The operation of such valve assemblies364 results, first, in the supply of suction to the sucker liftassemblies 376 during the time that they are lowered toward theuppermost sheets of the piles 338 by means of the crank and connectingassembly -464, the time that they contact and lift such uppermost sheetfrom each of the piles 338 and carry the same to operative positionsrelative to the sheet detectors 400 and until the suction supplied tolift assemblies 376 is cut off to drop the sheets upon the trays 212which meantime have advanced to positions passing thereunder.

The operation of the sheet detectors 400 has already been described insubstantial detail and need not now be repeated. It is noted, however,with reference being made particularly to FIG. 15, that each of thesheet detectors 400 is provided with a switch 404 which is adapted to beopened only if the sheet detector 400 registers the fact that a singlesheet of proper thickness has been presented to it. Cam 131 is adaptedto close switch at one moment during each sheet detecting cycle with theresult that, should any switch 404 not have been opened, relay coil 46could be immediately energized to break relay switch 44 and deenergizethe main drive motor 46. This provides an automatic interlock againstcontinued operation of the apparatus, in the event of any failureinvolving the picking up of more or less than one sheet from any pile338 by the sucker lift assemblies 376 operative with respect thereto.

As the sheets from piles 338 are deposited upon trays 212, and as thelatter are advanced by conveyor chains 120 and 122, sprockets 210 areoperated to rotate adhesive applicators 203 in synchronization with theadvancement of trays 212 so that glue assemblies 536 will contact thetrailing edge of the uppermost sheet upon each tray 212 to apply a spotof adhesive thereto. It will be clear that, as each tray advances to thenext operative position for receiving another sheet from the next pile338 thereupon, the spots of adhesive applied at the last operativeposition or station will serve to adhesively hold such last depositedsheet upon that portion of the pad of sheets theretofore gathered uponthe tray 212. It may be noted that the operative station closest thedelivery end of the apparatus normally has its applicator assembly 208not supplied with adhesive material, the action of the applicatorassemblies 536 being utilized merely to press the last deposited sheetdown upon the underlying, adhesive bearing sheets. The uniquelyadvantageous results attained with the adhesive applicator means 208forming a part of this invention are attributed largely to the fact thatthe applicators 208 are rotating in synchronization with advancement ofconveyor chains 120 and 122 in such manner that the applicatorassemblies 536 and particularly the sheet contacting spheres 548 travelwith the sheets upon each tray 212 at the same rate of movement as suchsheets upon the trays 212. This obviously prevents shifting of register,ruflling and other undesired effects.

As the section trays 212 approach the delivery end of the apparatus, thepads upon the trays 212 are stripped therefrom by the stripper elements250. Due to the sectioned nature of trays 212, such action isindependent of the dimensions of the sheets or assembled pads within 17wide limits. Thev pads are then received by delivery rollers 602 and.616 which. advance the pads to the delivery conveyor belt. 600 withoutdisturbing the. register thereof.

Although. many more details of operation could. be enumerated, it isfelt. that the. operation of the. various cooperating components. ofthe. apparatus. will be best understood from. the detailed descriptionsthereof hereinbefore set forth. When such detailedv explanations areconsidered in. conjunction with the rsum of operational functioningjust. completed, the many advantages of the apparatus of this inventionover previously known. ma,- chines will be obvious to those skilled inthe art.

Since the apparatus of this invention involves. the combination ofstructure providing a number of improved features, it will be clear thatmodifications or changes of' the structure to forego the enjoyment ofone or more of such improved features. does not depart from the truespirit and contemplation of the invention. Moreover, it is manifest thatmany minor alterations could be made in the construction from theillustrative details shownand described without departing from thteachings or intentions of the invention. Accordingly, it is to beunderstood that the invention shall be deemed limited only bythe scopeof the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Paper gathering apparatus comprising, in combination, means forsupporting afirst pile of sheets; means for supporting a second pileofsheets in spaced relation to said first pile; conveyor means providedwith a series of sheet supporting structures movable therewith andspaced apart along the direction of mobility thereof; means for normallyadvancing the conveyor continuously; means including a vacuum-operated,sucker assembly for lifting a sheet from said first pile; means fordetecting when other than a single sheet is lifted by said liftingmeans; means coupling said detecting means with said advancing means forautomatically deactivating the latter when other than a single sheet islifted by said lifting means; means for depositing said sheet liftedfrom said first pile upon one of said structures; means for applying aquantity of adhesive material to a portion of said sheet from said onefirst pile while the same is supported upon said one structure; meansincluding a vacuum-operated, sucker assembly for lifting a sheet fromsaid second pile; means for detecting when other than a single sheet islifted by said last mentioned lifting means; means coupling said lastmentioned detecting means with said advancing means for automaticallydeactivating the latter when other than a single sheet is lifted by saidlast mentioned lifting means; means for depositing said last mentionedsheet upon said first mentioned sheet after the latter has beendeposited upon said structure; and means for removing said sheetsdeposited upon said structure together.

2. Paper gathering apparatus comprising, in combination, means forsupporting a first pile of sheets; means for supporting a second pile ofsheets in spaced relation to said first pile; conveyor means providedwith a series of sheet supporting structures movable therewith andspaced apart along the direction of mobility thereof; means for normallyadvancing the conveyor continuously; means for lifing a sheet from saidfirst pile; means for detecting when other than a single sheet is liftedby said lifting means; means coupling said detecting means with saidadvancing means for automatically deactivating the latter when otherthan a single sheet is lifted by said lifting means; means fordepositing said sheet lifted from said first pile upon one of saidstructure; means for lifting a sheet from said second pile; means fordetecting when other than a single sheet is lifted by said lastmentioned lifting means; means coupling said last mentioned detectingmeans with said advancing means for automatically deactivating thelatter when other than a single sheet is lifted by said last mentionedlifting means; means 18 for depositing said last mentioned sheet uponsaid first mentioned sheet after the latter has been deposited. uponsaid one. structure; and means for removing said sheets deposited uponsaid structure together by lifting. them therefrom.

3. Paper gathering apparatus comprising in, combination, means forsupporting a first pile of sheets; means for supporting a second pileof. sheets in spaced relation to said first pile; conveyor meansprovided with a. series of sheet-supporting structures movable therewithand spaced apart along the direction of mobility thereof; means fornormally advancing the conveyor continuously; means for lifting a sheetfrom said first pile; means for depositing said sheet lifted from saidfirst pile upon one said structures; means for applying a quantity ofadhesive material to a portion of said sheet adjacent an edge thereofafter the sheetv has been deposited upon said structure and while theconveyor is advancing; means for lifting a sheet from said second pile;means for depositingv said last mentionedsheet upon said firstmentioned. sheet after the. latter has been deposited. upon said onestructure. and had said adhesive material applied thereto and while theconveyor is advancing; and means for removing said sheets depositedupon. said structure together.

4. Paper gathering apparatus comprising, in com.- bination, means forsupporting a first pile of. sheets; means for supporting a second pileof sheets in spaced relation to said first pile; conveyor means providedwith a series of sheet supporting structures movable therewith andspacedapart along the direction of mobility thereof; means for normallyadvancing the conveyor continuously; means for lifting a sheet from saidfirst pile; means for detecting when other than a single sheet is liftedby said lifting means; means coupling said detecting means with saidadvancing means for automatically deactivating the latter when otherthan a single sheet is lifted by said lifting means; means fordepositing said sheet lifted from said first pile upon one of saidstructures; means for applying a quantity of adhesive material to aportion of said sheet adjacent an edge thereof after the sheet has beendeposited upon said one structure and while the conveyor is advancing;means for lifting a sheet from said second pile; means for detectingwhen other than a single sheet is lifted by said last mentioned liftingmeans; means coupling said last mentioned detecting means with saidadvancing means for automatically deactivating the latter when otherthan a single sheet is lifted by said last mentioned lifting means;means for deposiing said last mentioned sheet upon said first mentionedsheet after the latter has been deposited upon said one structure andhad said adhesive material applied thereto and while the conveyor isadvancing; and means for removing said sheets deposited upon saidstructure together.

5. Paper gathering apparatus comprising, in combination, verticallyshiftab-le means for supporting a first pile of sheets; verticallyshiftable means for supporting a second pile of sheets in spacedrelation to said first pile; endless conveyor means provided with aseries of sheet-supporting structures movable therewith and spaced apartalong the direction of mobility thereof; means for normally advancingthe conveyor continuously; means for lifting a sheet from said firstpile each time one of said structures approaches a ffirst position;means for depositing said sheet lifted from said one first pile uponsaid structure as the latter passes said first position; means forapplying a quantity of adhesive material to a portion of said sheetlifted from said first pile adjacent an edge thereof after the sheet hasbeen deposited upon said structure and while the conveyor is advancing;means for lifting a sheet from said one second pile each time saidstructure approaches a second position; means for depositing saidlast-mentioned sheet upon said firstmentioned sheet after the latter hasbeen deposited upon said one structure and as said structure passes saidsecond position; means for removing the pair of said sheets so depositedupon said one structure as the latter passes a third position; means foreach of said pile supporting means respectively relcasably coupling thelatter operably with said advancing means for raising said supportingmeans; and sensing means engageable with the uppermost sheet on eachpile respectively, said sensing means being operably connected with saidcoupling means for releasing the latter when the pile supporting meanshave been raised to positions disposing their respective, uppermostsheets at predetermined levels.

6. In the apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein is provided meansfor detecting when other than a single sheet is lifted by either of saidlifting means; and means coupling said detecting means with saidadvancing means for automatically deactivating the latter when otherthan a single sheet is lifted by either of said lifting means.

7. Paper gathering apparatus comprising, in combination, verticallyshiftable means for supporting a first pile of sheets; verticallyshiftable means for supporting a second pile of sheets in spacedrelation to said first pile; endless conveyor means provided with aseries of sheet-supporting structures movable therewith and spaced apartalong the direction of mobility thereof; means for normally advancingthe conveyor continuously; means for lifting a sheet from said firstpile each time one of said structures approaches a first position; meansfor depositing said sheet lifted from said first pile upon said onestructure as the latter passes said first position; means for lifting asheet from said second pile each time said one structure approaches asecond position; means for depositing said last-mentioned sheet uponsaid firstmentioned sheet after the latter has been deposited upon saidone structure and as said structure passes said second position; meansfor removing the pair of said sheets so deposited upon said onestructure as the latter passes a third position; means for each of saidpile-supporting means respectively releasably coupling the latteroperably with said advancing means for raising said supporting means;and sensing means engageable with the uppermost sheet on each pilerespectively, said sensing means being operably connected with saidcoupling means for releasing the latter when the pile-supporting meanshave been raised to positions disposing their respective, uppermostsheets at predetermined levels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,041,424 Buck Oct. 15, 1912 2,239,995 Daneke et al. Apr. 29, 19412,255,777 Jones Sept. 16, 1941 2,427,839 Davidson Sept. 23, 19472,479,060 Davidson Aug. 16, 1949 2,563,450 Battey Aug. 7, 1951 2,568,224Didde et al Sept. 18, 1951 2,589,428 Pearce Mar. 18, 1952 2,721,737Hammer et a1 Oct. 25, 1955 2,722,414 Smith Nov. 1, 1955 2,753,180 ThomasJuly 3, 1956 2,755,909 Crawford July 24, 1956 2,850,279 Stoothofi et a1.Sept. 2, 1958

